Category Archives: Injuries

September 13, 2009 · 12:23 pm

Rangers Gaborik already hurting

When the Rangers acquired sniper Marian Gaborik this past offseason for 5-years, $7.5 million, many critics noted that if the highly talented, but fragile player could only hack an average of 50 games a season with Minnesota, there was little chance he’d suddenly become durable in New York.  And so far they were right.

Gaborik, looked on to be the offensive catalyst for the Rangers in 2009-10,  was held out of physical testing on the opening day of training camp because of soreness due to pre-camp light skating.

“We just want to be careful, he’s a little tender,” said Rangers’ coach John Tortorella. “He was skating the other day, he’s just a little sore from that. We don’t want to do anything stupid.”

Gaborik needed serious hip surgery last season which only allowed him to play 17 games.

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August 25, 2009 · 1:42 pm

Update: Gagne injured in Olympic camp

According to multiple reports out of Team Canada’s Olympic camp in Calgary, Flyers’ forward Simon Gagne has suffered a hip injury practicing with the team.  Darren Dreger of TSN is reporting that Gagne will miss the rest of the week-long camp.

The injury is not serious, but just a tweaking of the right hip, the same in which Gagne had a clean up procedure on in late May.

“For now it’s nothing serious,” Gagne told Chuck Gormley of the Courier Post. “The pace was a little faster than I was used to this summer.  I think I’ll be OK for training camp.”

Gagne believes that the fast pace of the camp contributed to soreness.

“It was a little tight when I was skating on my own, but the tempo here is a lot faster than the pace I set this summer,” he said. “It’s faster than I expected and I’ll need to do some more rehab.”

The injury is likely to keep Simon on the shelf until Flyers’ training camp on Sept. 13.

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June 12, 2009 · 6:21 pm

Hatcher’s playing career officially over

Courtesy of Kevin Kurz and @FlyersontheflyCourtesy of Kevin Kurz and @Flyersonthefly

While some believed that future Hall of Famer defenseman Derian Hatcher could make a possible return to the Flyers during their 2008-09 playoff run, people in the know, knew that Hatcher’s right knee was damaged to the point of no return.  And on June 1, major surgery officially ended what was a storied career.

Hatcher underwent full right knee replacement surgery on the same damaged leg that hobbled him throughout the 07-08 playoffs.  With almost no mobility, the Flyers put him on LTIR to start the 08-09 season, but Hatcher’s will to compete saw him back on the ice trying to make a comeback.  But unfortunately for him, his knee wouldn’t agree, unceremoniously ending his playing career.  Hatcher has not declared retirement, but it can’t be far behind.

Despite not being able to meet the guys on the ice, Hatcher will remain with the team.  He is rumored to one of the coaches tapped to run the Flyers prospect camp that takes place weeks before training camp begins.

Hatcher won the Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.  He was the first America-born captain to ever lead a team to the cup.  He was signed as a free agent by the Flyers in 2005 and had nine goals and 24 assists in 203 games.

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Filed under 2009-10 season, Injuries, Offseason

May 14, 2009 · 2:46 am

Jones OK after hip surgery

At the conclusion of the Flyers’ season, it was announced that defenseman Randy Jones would need exploratory surgery to figure out why the same hip that needed a procedure done to repair a torn labrum at the beginning of the season, was still giving him pain.  After getting the hip checked out by professionals, it turns out Randy did not re-injure himself, but just needed a clean up.

On Wednesday, Jones underwent a surgery to clean up scar tissue and inflamed tissue in his hip.

“Jones had immediate relief from the surgery they did today,” Holmgren said.

Jones finished the season under extreme pain caused by the sore hip and serious surgery was a potential concern.  But with him possibly on the trade block in the offseason, not needing months of rehab is not only a breath of fresh air for Jones, but for the Flyers as well.

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April 30, 2009 · 11:19 pm

Carter played with dislocated shoulder

Many people speculated that Flyers’ forward Jeff Carter was battling injury after only scoring one goal in six playoff games.  He led the Flyers with 46 goals during the regular season, but seemed to lack potency in the second season.

And it’s starting to make sense why.

According to a report from CSN,  Carter played a majority of the playoffs with a separated his shoulder suffered in game 3 against the Penguins in Philadelphia.  The injury may have hampered his offensive output for the rest of the series.

“Jeff kinda fell into the boards awkwardly and separated his shoulder,” General Manager Paul Holmgren said. “It won’t require surgery but it was enough of an injury it hampered him. He just can’t play right now. He needs to rest it.”

The injury was announced by Holmgren after Carter declined an invitation to join Team Canada in Switzerland for the IIHF World Championships.

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April 29, 2009 · 12:49 am

Richards to have offseason surgery

General Manager Paul Holmgren announced Tuesday, that captain Mike Richards finished the 2008-09 season with a torn labrum both his left and right shoulder.  The first-year Flyers’ captain will undergo surgery on the right shoulder and doctors will re-evaluate the injury on the left shoulder after results of an MRI come back.  Going under the knife will put Mike out 10-12 weeks.  He will be ready for the start of the season.

The Torn Labrum epidemic is becoming more and more common with athletes as technology to diagonose the injury improves.  It’s not the type of tear that can get worse, it simply causes discomfort and if you can handle the pain you can play without fear of aggravating it more or causing more damage.

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April 17, 2009 · 1:10 am

Playoff hockey?? Carcillo suspended for game two for gloved punch

In the NHL rulebook, it states that any player engaging in entertaining naughty activity in the final moments of a game can be suspended and the coach of the team be fined.  For the Flyers, it was Daniel Carcillo with the one-game layoff and coach John Stevens with the 10k fine.

In the final minutes of the final period in game one of the playoff series against the Penguins, Carcillo took a faceoff against Maxime Talbot.  Down 4-1 and frustrated, Carcillo’s right glove contacted Talbot’s head. Talbot fell to the ground like he was obliterated by the hammer of Thor.  No penalty was given, but a suspension followed.

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April 12, 2009 · 7:11 pm

Deja Vu: Flyers sign amateur Fritsch to replace Parent

In an identical move that brought amateur defenseman David Sloane to the Flyers for a 24-hour period on Thursday, as a result of another Ryan Parent groin injury, General Manager Paul Holmgren has signed University of New Hampshire defenseman Jamie Fritsch to a try out contract, meaning he can play for the Flyers with no cap hit for 24-hours.

At 6-foot-2, 200 lbs, 24-year old Fritsch is a physical, defensive defenseman and a native of Maryland.  Despite not scoring a lot of points, Fritsch is a plus-minus monster.  In 33 games last season, he was a +17 in 37 games, while only contributing 10 points.

With injuries to Riley Cote and Ryan Parent, the inability to Cote on the LTIR leaves the Flyers with both player’s salaries stuck on the books. The predicament maxes the cap space, but leaves the Flyers still needing a body on the blue line.  When the regular season ends, the salary cap becomes meaningless and the Flyers can bring up players anytime, with no penalty.

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Filed under 2008-09 season, Injuries, Prospects

April 10, 2009 · 6:28 pm

Parent to return, amateur experiment to end and Sbisa back with team

Given the circumstance, amateur defenseman turn NHL blue liner for the day, David Sloane, did not have a bad game on Thursday, despite only getting 6:44 of ice time and having one blocked shot. But there is something to say about a Philly guy playing his first game at the highest level, against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden, in a playoff-style atmosphere.

“One minute I’m in Albany (with the Phantoms), the next I’m in a rental car coming down to New York,” Sloane said. “It was a total surprise to me.”

Because defenseman Ryan Parent was still feeling the lingering effects of a groin tweak. And Riley Cote was out with a bum finger.  The Flyers were stuck with both players’ salary on the books and needed a replacement on defense, while being pressed hard against the cap.  The solution — sign an amateur on the Phantoms that hasn’t played a professional game and play him within 24-hours.  Signing Sloane meant that for 24-hours, the 24-year old defenseman from Colgate University, wouldn’t count against the cap.

“It’s not an ideal situation to be in,” said Flyers’ general manager Paul Holmgren. “I don’t particularly like playing short-handed. David Sloane is a college hockey player who has never played a pro game. Is he ready for the National Hockey League? Probably not, but he’s going to be put under fire.”

Lucky for the Flyers, Parent will be ready to play on Saturday against the New York Islanders, while Sloane will get sent back to the Phantoms.

Also in defensive news, the Flyers have assigned Luca Sbisa to the Phantoms.  Sbisa’s junior season ended Wednesday night, making him eligable to go pro for the rest of the season.  Sbisa will join the Flyers once the playoffs start, when the salary cap becomes virtually meaningless.

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April 9, 2009 · 7:24 pm

Curve ball! Flyers sign local defenseman Sloane to replace Parent

It was reported earlier that Phantoms’ defender Danny Syvret would take the place of injured defenseman Ryan Parent, tonight versus the New York Rangers.  But that won’t be the case.  The Flyers have went the unconventional route and signed 6-foot-4, 220 lbs. defenseman David Sloane out of Colgate University to a try out contract.  Sloane will take the place of Parent tonight as the Flyers face the Rangers in a crucial end of the season match up.  What a welcome to professional hockey.

“I just want to keep it simple and play my game,” said Sloane. “I want to get the butterflies out early, which I am sure there will be plenty of.”

Sloane played four years at Colgate and had 10 goals and 13 assists, with 100 penalty minutes.  He was born in Philadelphia and is a native of Ambler, Pennsylvania.  Because of the injury emergency call-up rules, Sloane is available to play for the Flyers in a 24-hour period after signing.  He will wear number 40.

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